Sweden outsmarted Italy to seal a spot at the World Cup 2018 – and it means serious money

Sweden was a clear underdog in the play-off match, and managed to escape with a win despite Italian dominance.

Fifa rewards World Cup entrants with $8 million each. There could be more if Sweden advances in the tournament next summer.

Few though it would be possible.

For the first time since 2006, and without Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Sweden has qualified into the most coveted tournament in global sports. It happened after two intense, agitated games, that saw Sweden eke out a 1-0 aggregate win against Italy on the back of substitute Jakob Johansson's goal in Stockholm.

Media in Sweden talks about the advancement to Russia 2018 as one of Swedish soccer’s biggest moments. Italy on the other hand is left begrudging an apathetic performance that means it will miss out on its first World Cup since 1958 (which was played in Stockholm).

Sweden – which made a solid showing in a tough qualifying group with France and the Netherlands – headed into its play-off match a clear underdog. But after clawing away a 1-0 victory against Italy on home turf, Sweden cautiously started believing that a bland squad of mid-level players could topple the Italian stars in Milano. And they did.

From the deafening boos during Sweden’s national anthem to the harried last-second chaos inside their own goal area, the “Blågult” withstood the pressure from the iconic “Gli Azzuri” - with a compact defensive game and a cohesive team effort. You could even say Sweden out-Italy’ied Italy itself.

0-0 was the final result in Milano, and after final whistle, Sweden's exhausted players were incredulous. Then they decided to crash Eurosport Sweden's tv studio.

And now comes the money.

TT / Jonas Ekströmer

Following the advancement to Sochi 2018, the Swedish national soccer federation, SvFF, will net 8 million dollars (SEK 67 million) from Fifa.

If Sweden were to advance to group stage in Sochi, it would earn the team an additional $3,5 million. And if, by accident of god, Sweden were to win the entire World Cup, SvFF would net a neat $38 million (SEK 320 m), writes Dagens Industri.

Either way, the Fifa money will help boost Swedish soccer.

"Just look back [at previous tournaments]. Whenever we have advanced to the World Cup or European Championships, the economic boost has enabled us to develop our activities," said Håkan Sjöstrand, SvFF General Secretary, to TT.

For Fifa itself, losing the audience favorite of Italy – just “Gli Azzuri’s” pompous national hymn make people tune in – will cost it an estimated 100 million euros in lost TV revenues from Rai and Sky, according to Italian news agency Ansa.

There may be a second Nordic team heading for the World Cup, if Denmark wins its deciding play-off match against Ireland tonight. Last week's match in Copenhagen ended 0-0.